Benefits for Employees Funded Through UBF

The benefits available through UB Foundation (UBF) are designed to meet the needs of today's workforce. You have a choice of benefits that will enable you to design a benefits package specifically for you and your family.

How Do Flexible Benefits Work?

When you are initially hired and/or become eligible, you will enroll for most benefits through the BSwift Benefit System, which allows you to choose the benefits you and your family need.

The BSwift Benefit System provides a summary of your current benefit elections and general information on all UBF benefits, including plan descriptions. You can also use the library section of the BSwift Benefit System to find:

Summary Plan Descriptions (SPD)

Provider website links

Benefit forms

Benefit Elections

Benefit elections for medical, dental, vision, and flexible spending accounts are effective until December 31 of the calendar year that you enrolled, provided you continue to meet eligibility requirements. Because these are section 125 benefits, you cannot change these options (medical, dental, vision, health FSA) any time during the calendar year unless there is an IRS qualified “life event”.

Index of Life Events Exceptions

While you are generally only allowed to change your benefits elections during the open enrollment period each year, certain life events provide an exception. Those life events allow you to change your benefits elections in the middle of the plan year if certain requirements are met.

The following are examples of types of life events that may allow you to change your benefit elections during a plan year:

Birth/Adoption

Change in Insurance Coverage

Change of Address (which affects plan eligibility)

Change in Employment Status

Death in the Family

Dependent Child Reaches Limiting Age

Divorce/Annulment

Domestic Partnership

FMLA-related Leave

Legal Separation

Loss / Gain of Other Coverage

Marriage

Medicare / Medicaid Eligibility

Significant Coverage Reduction or Cost Increase

Please notify the UBF Benefits Department immediately if you experience any life event changes so that we can ensure there is no interruption or error in your benefits. You will have 30 days from the date of the life event to make the change.

Open Enrollment

UBF annual open enrollment is offered in late fall of each year and gives you the opportunity to review and select the same or different benefits using the BSwift Benefit System. You will be notified in advance of the Open Enrollment period.

Frequently Asked Questions About Benefits

How do I learn about my benefits?

UBF conducts a benefits orientation the first Tuesday of every month starting at 9:00 a.m. at the Center for Tomorrow, North Campus. This orientation would be most beneficial for newly eligible participants, however, all participants are welcome to attend.

Preregistration is appreciated, but not required, by calling 716-645-8731 or sending email to Joyce Weeman.

Are graduate students eligible for benefits?

No, but you may be reimbursed 88% of the student's cost and 73% of dependent cost for health insurance.

In order to receive reimbursement, submit a copy of tuition bill showing insurance and a zero balance due to the UBF payroll department via email ubf-timesheets@buffalo.edu, campus mail, or US Mail. Upon receipt, UBF will verify the graduate student's eligibility of working 10 hours per week and will process the reimbursement with the next payroll.

Benefit Types

Medical Insurance

Medical Insurance offered through Independent Health allows you to see a participating doctor. The Independent Health plans provide:

Extensive coverage for hospital services

Routine and major medical care

Preventive services, many of which have no copayment.

Medical Insurance Eligibility

The insurance is available to eligible salaried individuals and hourly workers who are regularly scheduled to work 20 hours or more per week. Coverage is effective on the first day of the month following date of hire or eligibility date. Eligible dependents or students are covered up to age 26.

Cost

UBF shares the cost of health insurance coverage with the participants. Your share of medical insurance is currently paid with pretax dollars.

Plan Options

The Independent Health options include:

Encompass D plan (for individuals residing in Western New York)

Flex Fit plans (for individuals residing in Western New York)

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan (only available to those who reside outside of Western New York).

A detailed summary of these plans is available in the Library section on the BSwift Benefit System, and is also available from the UBF Benefits Department.

Enrolling in Medical Insurance

Opt Out

If you receive health insurance through your spouse's employer and you have a full-time appointment, you may elect to waive health coverage through UBF and receive cash, paid as taxable income. The cash amount is $600.00 annually, paid $25 on the first two pays of each month. You must be able to document that you receive coverage elsewhere to be eligible for this option.

Exception

If you are covered under your spouse’s medical insurance and he or she receives his or her medical benefits from UBFA or another UB Pay line, you are not eligible for Opt Out.

Dental Insurance

The Guardian Traditional Plan covers preventive services at 100%, requires a calendar year deductible and co-payment for other services, and allows you to visit the dentist of your choice within the provider network.

Dental Insurance Eligibility

Dental coverage is offered to eligible salaried individuals and hourly workers who are regularly scheduled to work 20 hours or more per week. The coverage is effective on the first day of the month following date of hire or eligibility date.

Vision Insurance

UBF offers optional vision insurance through Davis Vision. The plan provides an exam and lenses or contacts every 12 months for all participants, with frames available every 24 months.

Vision Insurance Eligibility

Eligibility is based on an appointment as UB Faculty or staff on a UBF funded account and working a minimum of 20 hours per week. The coverage is effective on the first day of the month following date of hire or eligibility date.

Vision Insurance Enrollment

Enrollment is handled through the BSwift Benefit System.

Cost

The cost of the vision insurance paid with pre-tax dollars by way of payroll deductions, subscriber is responsible for 100% of the cost.